For the first time, GB50A bombs have been documented actively used in conflicts around the world
Evidence of Chinese-made bombs and how bullet holes were used in attacks used in Sudan killed 13 and injured more
The weapon is manufactured by the Norinco Group, also known as China North Industries Group Corporation Limited
Arms have almost certainly been re-exported to Sudan by the United Arab Emirates, despite China being the Arms Trade Treaty
“Civilians have been killed and injured due to global inaction, but the United Arab Emirates continues to show off their embargo” – Brian Casner
Sleek Chinese weapons re-exported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are being used in Khartoum and Darfur in blatant violations of the existing UN arms embargo, Amnesty International said after a new investigation.
By analyzing photos and videos showing the aftermath of the attack by the Rapid Support Force (RSF), the pardon identified China’s GB50A guided bomb and 155mm AH-4 howitzers. This is the first time a GB50A bomb has been actively used and recorded in conflicts around the world. The weapons are manufactured by the Norinco Group, also known as the Northern China Industrial Group Corporation Limited, the China National Defense Corporation. The weapons were almost certainly re-exported to Sudan by the United Arab Emirates.
“We’re a scientist at Amnesty International,” said Brian Castner, Chief Research Officer at Crisis.
“The presence of a recently manufactured Chinese bomb in North Darfur is a clear violation of the UAE’s arms embargo. Khartoum’s AH-4 how shellgun documents further strengthen the growing evidence showing widespread UAE support for the RSF in violation of international law.
“It is shameful that the UN Security Council fails to implement existing arms embargoes on Darfur and does not pay attention to the call to expand to all of Sudan. Civilians have been killed and injured due to global inaction.
Violates the Arms Trade Treaty
China, as a party to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), must take urgent measures to prevent the weapons from being diverted to Sudan. By continuing to supply such weapons to the UAE – a state with a long track record of supplying weapons to conflicts where war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law occur regularly – China risks supplying weapons indirectly to conflicts.
As ATT signatories, the UAE consistently undermined its purpose and purpose. All states must suspend transfers to the United Arab Emirates until the United Arab Emirates is not re-exported to Sudan or other embargo destinations and that any past violations of the UNSC arms embargo have been thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators are considered.
Last year, new weapons from Amnesty Briefing, which fueled the Sudan conflict, documented that weapons recently manufactured from countries including China, Russia, Turkier and the United Arab Emirates have been moved to and around Sudan, often in a surprising violation of existing Dahfur embargo. It also revealed how French-made weapon systems are used on the battlefields of Sudan.
Amnesty has written to the Norinko Group regarding the results of the survey on April 18, 2025. There were no responses at the time of publication.
Darfur and Khartoum Weapons
On the night of March 9, 2025, RSF launched a drone strike near the town of Almarha in North Darfur, possibly targeting the Sudanese army (SAF). Local media and Sudanese human rights groups reported 13 people have been killed and several more injured.
Amnesty has spoken with the family of four of the strike witnesses, and according to the family, their parents were community leaders who were targeted and killed by the RSF after catching Al Marha. Amnesty could not confirm this.
By analyzing digital evidence of the remains of the bomb used in the strike, Amnesty has identified the fragment as belonging to the Norinco GB50A guided air bomb. The fragment mark indicates that the bomb was manufactured in 2024. These bombs can be dropped from a variety of Chinese drones, including Wing Long II and Fay Hong-95. Both are used solely by the Sudan RSF and provided by the UAE.
The bomb fragment in the photo shows distinctive fins and brackets on the tail that identified this previously undocumented weapon. The well-stored markings match the GB50A reference image, including fonts, colors, and stencil styles.
In another case, the social media video shows the seizure of the SAF left by the RSF after being forced to retreat from Khartoum on March 27 and 28, 2025. Amnesty has identified one of the weapons in the video as the Norinco 155mm AH-4 Howitzer. The only country in the world to import AH-4 howitzers from China is the UAE. According to Stockholm Institute for International Peace, the transfer took place in 2019.
This shows that the UAE continues to provide support to the RSF following similar findings by a UN panel of experts on Sudan and other reports. Amnesty has previously published evidence of a UAE arms embargo violation.
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Norinco Group has a responsibility to respect human rights through its global operations. This requires human rights due diligence to be carried out throughout the value chain to identify, prevent, and mitigate actual or potential involvement in human rights violations. The Norinco Group must urgently consider all of its past, present and future weapons to the UAE and halt the export of weapons to the UAE if it does not stop the weapons decoupling to Sudan.
Escalation of conflicts since 2023
The conflict between the SAF and RSF, which has escalated since April 2023, continues to destroy Sudan. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and many more have been injured. A recent Amnesty study found that RSF committed a wide range of sexual violence against women and girls, including rape, gang rape and sexual slavery, along with the potential for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Amnesty has also launched a global petition urging the UN Security Council to expand beyond Darfur to other parts of Sudan. This is part of a campaign to advocate for protection of Sudan’s civilians and seek accountability for those who committed atrocities against civilians.
